Attachment for wire strand and process for producing the same



Sept. 20 1927.

E. A. CNNER ATTACHMENT FOR WIRE STRAND AND PROCESS FOR PRODUCING THESAME Filed Deo. 4, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheetl INVENTOR ZJZMV 021 71er .idf

f BY l MM ATTORNEY sept. 2o, 1927. 1,643,150

E. A. CONN ER ATTACHMENT FOR WIRE STRAND AND PROCES-S FOR PRODUCING THESAME Filed Deo. 4, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNvENToR 'a/wad/ fozzner www@ATTORNEY Patented Sept. .20, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.Y

EDWARD A. CONNER, OF STRATFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR T AMERICAN CABLECOMPANY, INC., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

ATTACHMENT FOR WIRE STRAND AND PROCESS FOR PRODUCING TH-E SAME.

Application filed December 4 1925. Serial No. 73,136.

l stranded Wire struct-ures With'attachments,

Cil

, and the present application is in part a continuation of myapplication for United States Letters Patent upon attachments for wirecables and process for producing the same, Serial No. 691,219, tiledFeb. 7, 1924, to the extent of the disclosure contained in the aforesaidapplication, the present appli-l cation disclosing,r also variousimprovements in themode of eiecting attachments and in details ofstructure which I have devised in practising the aforesaid process, withthe object of facilitating the general use of the novel attachments uponstranded Wire structure throughout the field of its employment, whetherin the form of simple strand, using that term to designate a pluralityof wires laid together, or in the form of Wire rope constituted by aplurality of such strands, with or Without'a metallic or nonmetalliccore or a w-ire cable formed of several wire ropes, in all of whichforms individual strands are used wholly or in part as components.

The invention relates to means for securing to stranded wire structuresattachments for anchoring the same either at the ends or upon .anintermediate portion of the structure, and to means for lprovidingstranded wire structurey withl` fixed stops, and for securing to itvarious kinds of attaching devices as may be desired, such as eyes,hooks, yokes and other connecting members of a similar type.

A method commonlyv employed of securing attachments to stranded wirestructure consists in the utilizing of thimbles socalled. The strandedWire structure is looped about the thimble and` secured by splicing, orby clamping. Splicing is not only a laborious operation requiringconsiderable skill, but an operation which seldom or never results in aunion that possesses a degree of strength equal to that of the strandproper. This method is readily adaptable only for securing attachmentsto the ends of the stranded structure.

Another conventional method of securing anchoring means and connectingattachments to the ends of'stranded'wire structure is that known assocketing, and consists in passing the end of the stranded wire'structure through a socket, then splaying or spreading the Wires at theend and then tilllng the interstices of the splayed end with zinc orsome other soldering substance. In that way an enlargement is made atthe end of the stranded wire structure which prevents it from beingpulled through the socket whereby it is to be anchored. This methodrequires inthe first place the use of heat and a little more than theaverage skill found among Workmen. Furthermore, any sort of solderingmaterial which can be used at low temperatures is necessarily soft and,consequently, gives Way under the severe strains and wear to which it issubjected in ordinary service. Again, this method is not readilyadaptable to the securing of stops, anchoring means or attachments atpoints on the stranded wire structure intermediate its ends. Whenever itis desired to secure stops or anchorage attachments at pointsintermediate the ends of the stranded Wire structure, it is usuallycustomary to use clips or clamps of one kind or another which arefastened with bolts or rivets. For this pur- 'pose open U-shaped piecesare frequently employed, which after being put in place on the strandedwire structure are merely closed about it with pliers or other suitabletools,

such attachments being sometimes soldered or brazed `for greatersecurity. The soldering or brazing however, is particularlyobjectionable where such stranded wire structure is to be used forrunning over sheaves, for the reason that unless eXtreme care is takenin the solderiudg1 or brazing operation the solder or brazing materialruns along the stranded Wire structure for a considerable distance onone side or the other, or both sides, of the attachment, thus making apor-` tion of the stranded wire structurel stili and unyielding to thecurvature of the sheave. Under such conditions the portion of thestranded wire structure which is filled with solder obviously speedilydisintegrates. In addition, the use of soldering material, particularlyzinc, frequently requires acid iluxes and as is lwell known, acid iuxesare extremely corrosive and are especially objectionable on thataccount. A

l So also, the use of heat by unskilled workmen in applying anattachment of any form is liable to anneal the high carbon steel wiresof which strand, Wire ropes and cables are composed in much the largestproportion of having been found decidedly inferior to properly installedsockets.

In general, all forms of attachment heretofore employed were developedfor use with iron ropes, which develop only a fraction of the strengthof stranded steel Wire of the same dimensions, so that the existingattachments are not designed to meet the exacting requirements of themodern steel stranded wire.

An unfavorable characteristic common to the clamps and clips has beentheir formation with members of very rigid metal, especially those usedin the attempt to adapt these devices to steel stranded Wire ropes, sothat when bolted tightly upon the stranded Wire structure they havecrushed and deformed the Wire, and when less tightly bolted theattachment has not developed the full strength of the stranded Wirestructure, so that several clips or clamps are often used, making theattachment too bulky, a disadvantage that is often shared by the Hsockets, when it is found necessary to make the latter very long.

The object of my invention is to provide an attachment that will developthe full strength of the modern steel Wire strand, rope and cable, andother high-tensile strength stranded Wire structure, as Well as of thoseformed of iron Wire; is adaptable for any part of the stranded wirestructure, obviating the above mentioned difficulties, and which isuniformly reliable and capable of ready inspection.

Another object of the ihvention is to provide an attachment member ofsteel or other high-tensile strength met-al having a degree of hardnessless than that of the stranded Wire structure, and which is capable ofbeing Worked in place While cold, by a method which results in hardeningthe sleeve, While the stranded Wire structure is Worked also and itsquality improved, rather than impaired, by the application of theattachment.

Another object ef my invention is to provide an attachment that ivillaccomplish the purposes above described, and which is coinpact in sizeand will be susceptible of being givenvarious external shapes andcontours.

Another object of my invention is to providea method of securingattachments to stranded wire structure which can be carried out by theuse of a machine and which .iii furtherance of the above invention, isto provide an improved method of applying an attachment sleeve to thestranded wire structure, in such fashion that the sleeve is in tegratedwith the strand components by impacting the material of the sleeve intothe peripheral intci'stices of the strand or strands and therebypreserving the integrity of the stranded Wire structure, and at the sametime fioiving the sleeve, over substantially the entire exposed arca ofthe stranded wire structure throughout a region of attachment suflicientto form a joint substantially equal in tensile strength to that of thestranded wire structure outside of the joint. Another object is to fioivthe material ofthe sleeve by impactment which diminishes in force fromthe above described region of maximum integrating impactment, toward theregion of exit of the stranded Wire structure from the sleeve, With acoi'- iespondingly progressive diminution of compactment of the strandedWire structure until the latter is of normal diameter and o iily soconfined that it may be bent relatively to the joint Without deleteriousstrain.

The preferred ai'ea of the joint proper, the degree of conipactmentnecessary to secure integration with the stranded Wire structure, andthe angle of diminishing impactment relatively to the main longitudiiiala. ;is of the structure, are determinable in practise by taking intoaccount the compressibility of the stranded Wire structure, in which theleading factors are the structure of the strand components and therelative hardness of the materials employed, which may vary considerablyWithin vvide desirable limits, and illustrative examples of suchvariations Will behereinafter set forth.

The various features of the invention are illustrated and describedfully in the accompanying drawings and specification and are pointed outin the claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a vien7 showing a portion of a wire strand, constituting oneforni of stranded ivire structure partly broken away, with an attachmentin place thereon ready to be integrated with the stranded Wire structureby the process forming the subject of this lit? invention, theattachment being shown 1n, longitudinal section, partly in sideelevation. i

Fig. 1l is an end elevation of the same.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal, sectionaly View of the assembled wirestructure and attachment shown in Fig. l after the process of attachmenthas been carried into effect.

Fig. 2a is a section on the line 23-22 of Fig. 2, the parts being shownon a larger sca e.

isn

` prising the a Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of the wire structureand its attachment completed.

Fig. 4 1s a view, similar to Fig. 2, of a' wire rope, constituting amodification of the stranded wire structure.

Fig. 44 is a section on-tlie line 44 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 4* is an end .elevation thereof.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 ofv another modification.

Fig. 6 is a view in longitudinal section illustrating a set of dies forcarrying the invention into effect, by a modification of the process,showing also a portion of wire .rope a-nd an attachment in processofbeing applied to the -wire rope. Fig. 7 is a view of a section ofstranded wire structure showing the first step in my process.-

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectionl of the assembly shown in Fig. 7 withpart of thel i ence number 1 designates part of a wire strand comprisingseveral wires 2, which may be for example formed of steel, andconstituting one form of stranded wire structure suitable for embodimentof the invention, being laid together in helical relation around acentral core wire 3, and this strand is shown as surrounded by 'acylindrical sleeve 4 of steel preferably somewhat softer than the steelof the strand wires 2, the interior diameter of the sleeve being sucientto permit the sleeve to be slipped readily upon the strand prior toattachment. Part of the strand is broken away at 5 to show the innerwall 6 of the sleeve, which may be smooth, as indicated at 6, prior tocarrying the process of attachment into effect, and in accordance with anow preferred and notably advantageous feature of the invention thesleeve is shown as provided at its mouth with a beveled or countersunkportion 7.

In pursuance of the invention the sleeve is worked upon the strandedwire by subjecting the sleeve to an impacting process, complicationthereto of impacting forces pre erably consisting of a series of lightblows, applied by a swedging machine, a hammer or other suitable deviceacting against the periphery of the sleeve from numerous radialdirections successively, so that the material of the sleevei4 isimpacted into the helical, peripheral interstices 8 of the strand. Thesleeve is thus caused to flow gradually from its original position,shown in Fig. 1 in full lines, and indicated in dotted lines in Fig 2,into the position shown 1n full lines in Fig; 2, where it occu ies aspace of .less diameter but greaterV en h than in Fig. 1. Thecountersunk portion is thereby extended slightly as indicated in Fig..2, the lip of the countersink taking approximately the form shown at 9in Fig 2. At the saine time that the sleeve has thus b een flowedslightly lengthwise, the operation of impacting has caused a gradualcompression and, if carried far enough, a slight elongation of thestrand, as indicated at 10,

in a somewhat exaggerated degree, for the sake of 'clearness inillustration, for a distance extending from the end 11. toward the thecompactness is somewhat less, owing to the decreased thickness of thewall 4of the sleeve at its countersunk mouth ortion, so that by thismeans the compression of the strand is gradually lessened, avoiding anysharp constriction of the strand at the region where it leaves the mouthof the attachment sleeve. By the gradual impactment,

.any local sharp constriction of the strand is avoided, so that there isnov tendency to rupture the strand or impair its strength.

Fig. 4 shows a wire rope 12 comprising several strands 13, laid around ahemp core 14, and therefore of somewhat mushier character than thestrand l already described, and accordingly the sleeve 15, whichotherwise maybe similar to the sleeve 4, is

shown as somewhat shorter, as the wire rope has many more peripheralinterstices to permit mtegration of the sleeve therewith, the

effect produced being illustrated clearly at 16, where the inner wall ofthe sleeve 15 is revealed in the drawing by omitting a portion of thewire rope. The countersunk portion 17 initially provided in the blankSleeve may be tapered more gradually, say at an angle of 12 to thelongitudinal axis of the rope, as compared with an angle of say in thecase of the sleeve for wire strand shown in Fig. 2 at 7.

The working of the metal of the sleeve,

and of the strand to the extent desirable has been devised by me toproduce the novel and desirable effect of producing a `completed jointuniform in character and at the same time to integrate the sleeve with"the .stranded wire structure so that a 'j oint thus constituted T willdevelop the maximum breaking strength of the stranded wire structureeven Vwhere a stranded wire structure of high carbon steel regionk ofthe countersink 7, at which region is providedwith a steel sleevefofless -hardness,

and accordingly I am thus able to Cil produce an al1-steel joint that iseven stronger than the stranded Wire structure, and which can beproduced mechanically in quantities by workmen of average skill, andwith a constant uniformity that insures a reliability not possible toaccomplish by the use. of conventional attachments such as splices,sockets, clamps, clips or the other types heretofore used.

This reliability is not only evidenced in the tensile strength of thejoint and strand, but also in the absence of fatigue under bendingstrains, so that the life of the stranded wire structure and joint isgreatly prolonged.

The desirable advantages above recited are exhibited in their greatestextent when the attachment is eected by repeated light blows, but insome instances the desired strength may be produced by the applicationof the forces through the instrumentality of dies forced repeatedlyagainst the sleeve from different radial directions in suitable presses,particularly When provision is made for the diminishing pressure at themouth of the joint.

For this purpose, instead of providing the sleeve blank with acountersink at the mouth, as already described With reference to theattachments shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the diminishing pressuremay be provided for by tapering the sleeve blank externally, asindicated at in Fig. 5, Whlch shows a sleeve 21 applied to a wire-rope22, the sleeve blank having a straight inner Wall throughout, as shownin dotted lines at 23, prior to carrying out the process of attachment,`Whereas the completed product is practically identical in form With thatof Fig. 4, as shoivn in full lines in both Figures 4 and 5, the latterexhibiting a final tapered mouth 24 and lip 25 like the mouth 18 and lip19 of Fig. 4, the exterior of the sleeve being straight throughout, ifso desired, in each instance.

lVhere the attachment sleeve has in part a non-circular peripheral shapeor enlargement, as for example in the inst-ance illustrated in Fig. 6,which shows a sleeve 26 in process of being applied to a Wire-rope 27,thesleeve having a hexagonal operating head 28, a convenient mode ofproviding for the diminishing compression, at the region 29 of themouth, is to Work the sleeve with dies 30 having Working surfacestapered as indicated at 3l, While the periphery of the sleeve blank, asindicated in dotted lines at 32, may be straight for the greater portionof its length.

The result of working the sleeve 26 by the dies 30 is to integrate theportion 26 of the sleeve with the portion 33 of the Wire rope 27,compressing the latter for the distance necessary to produce the desiredstrength, and reducing the sleeve from the .dotted line dimensions tothe full line dimensions, the

tapered surfaces' 31 of the dies causing the Walls of the sleeve at 29to assume a taper of a diameter increasing toward the mouth, so thatthere may be an actual clearance at 34 between the hexagonal head 28 andthe uncompressed portion of the Wire rope 27.

lVhile I have shown several.vvays of providing the diminishingcompresslon, othermeans for accomplishing the desired result may beutilized, without departing from the invention.

A possible effect of the impactment as carried out in some instancesaccording to my improved process, may be to compress the strandcomponents uniformly and symmetrically at the region Where they areconfined by the sleeve, so that they assume individually for examplethe-non-circular cross-section shown in Fig. 2a (on a larger scale) ascompared with the individual circular section of the Wires shown in Fig.l, which latter figure illustrates the original shape of the strandcomponents before compactment, and also illustrates the shape of thatunconipacted portion of the strand beyond the confines of the sleeveafter the attachment has been eHected.

Each strand component changes graduallyI in shape, accordingly, from thenon-clrcular form shoivn in Fig. 2n to the original circular form shownin Fig. 1, at cross-sections taken at successive points in the region ofdiminishing impactment. The gradual change of shape of the individualstrand components above described may also be secured, if desired, inthose embodiments shown in Figs. 4, 4, 5 and 6 Where each strandcomponent comprises several Wires, instead of a single wire. Suchcompression is not however an essential feature of the process in everyembodiment thereof, and is shown to a somewhat exaggerated degree forthe sake of clearness in illustration.

The cross-section of the Wire strand as a whole may desirably retain agenerallyT circular form throughout its length,l both Within the sleeve,and outside the sleeve, only changing in diameter. t

Any of the attachments above described may be threaded as indicated at35 in Fig. 3, or otherwise fitted to receive nuts, eyes, clevises, hooksor any suitable connecting device, and may be formed with peripheralshapes of -any suitable character, the hexagonal head 2S shown in Fig. 6being an illustration of one convenient form of such a shape. The shankof the attachment sleeve 26 may be threaded at any suitable stage of itsformation, as for example after it has been removed from the dies 30; orany suitable thread may be formed thereon as part of the' svvedgingprocess as hereinafter described.

So also, dies such as those shown in Fig. 6, with tapered mouths 31, maybe used advanlua tageously in the swedging machines or hamm'ers employedfor carrying the process into structure.

effect, as the tapered mouth operates desirably to fiow the materiallongitudinally as the dies are moved along the sleeve of any of theforms illustrated.

Referring now to the embodiment shown in Fig. 7, the numeral -41indicates a section of stranded wire structure of conventional type. Onthis is slipped a blank in the form of a tubular piece of metal stock orcollar 42, (best shown in Figure 8), the bore of which is preferably ofsuch diameter as to comfortably fit on the stranded wire If the strandedwire structure is of the so-called inert lay type, that 1s, the typewhich is made by pre-forming' the components of the stranded wirestructure before or after laying, it is unnecessary to tie or otherwisefasten together the ends of the components, since in the case of thistype of stranded wire structure there is no tendeney on the part of theindividual strands or wires to untwist or spring away from the core. If,however, the stranded wire struc- -ture is of the common type producedby forcibly twisting the wire or strands about the core, itis usuallynecessary, before inserting the end of the stranded wirestructure in theblank to bind the end with small steel wire, or to fasten together thewires by soldering or otherwise, in order tolprevent them fromuntwist-ing or springing out.

After the blank 42 has been slipped on the stranded wire structure, thenext step consists, as already described, in forcing the stock of theblank into the helical threads or grooves of the stranded wirestructure.

This step is preferably done with the work cold, since any temperaturewhich would serve any useful purpose in the operation would be so highthat the stranded wire structure, especially if of high carbon steel asit often is, would-be seriously weakened. Forging under heat, therefore,1s not under ordinary conditions, a desirable method of carrying out thestep now under considera; tion.

Therefore, since the step now under c'onsideration is to be carried `outwith the work cold, a method is desired which will causel such internaland external distortion of the stock of the` blank as not only to causeit to flow and conform closely to the conigurationof the stranded wirestructure but which will do so not only without weakening either thestock or the stranded wir'e structure, but also with actual improvement1n the quality of the material of the stock. The best way that -I havefound of carrying out this purpose consistsv in swedging the stock toshape. as hereinbeforej. set forth. The rapid series of light, elasticbut high velocity blows causes the stock to-closely conform to theconfigurations' of the stranded Wire cated at 45.

the individual wires of the latter,l and without distorting it as awhole otherwise than to slightly compact it.

As shown in Fig. 9 the bore of the stock as indicated at 43 is, afterswedging, virtually threaded to conform to the threads or helicalgrooves of the strandedwire structure. It is obvious that under thesecircumstances a strong union. is created between the attachment andstranded wire structure. In point of fact the resistance to parting or.rupture is considerably higher than the resistance to parting ofrupture of the stranded wire structureitself, provided proper care istaken to carry the swedging operation to the proper point. I have foundthat an ordinary hammer swedging machine 1sA admirably adapted for thepurpose, since it is easily regulatable and adjustable, and the ordinaryworkman can be quickly instructed in its use as applied to my'process. Arotary swedging machine is, however, entirely satisfactory in instancesin which the work may be passed' through the dies.

The operation of swedging the stock to a union with the stranded wirestructure may, if desired, be coupled with a second operation; namely,that ,of giving to the exterior of the stock a desired shape, such, forinstance, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10. In Fig. 9` it will be observedthat the shoulder 44 has been left, but that the remainder of the stockhas been exteriorly threaded as indi- The exterior threading may beproduced simultaneously with the shaping of the stock to the strandedwire structure, ythe swedge dies being suitably shaped for the purposein accordance with wellknown practice. On the other hand, the thread 45may be produced by machining or other conventional process. The fact,however, that my process makes it easily possible to produce variationsin the eX- terior shape of the stock, is a distinctadvantage.

`. In Fig. l() I have shown, bythe Iway of example, another type ofconnector which consists of a cylindrical shaped body threaded itsentire length, as indicated at 46.

In Fig. 11 I show two connectors each in the form of a stop, oneindicated by 47 being positioned at the end of the stranded wirestructure, and the other by 48, intermediate the ends of thestrandedwire structure.

The attachments may be applied to any suitable portion of the wirestrand, rope or cable, eithery at they end, as illustrated,v or at anintermediate portion of the stranded 4structure without rupturing orweakening i wire article, and may be utilized to connect a In general,such attachments may be employed instead of existing attachments of anyform, and with notable advantages over the latter, both as to economy inthe cost of application, reliability in operation, and easeofinspection. They are found in practice to develop uniformly the fullstrength of the Wire strand, rope or cable, so that they furnish astandard heretofore not found practicable.

Vhile I have shown and described certain simple and practical speciiicembodiments of my invention, and ways of carrying it out, it is to beunderstood that many of the features described may be Varied and yet notdepart from the scope of my claims, which are as follows.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. The process of securing an attachment upon stranded wire structure ofthe type adapted to sustain high tensile stresses, saidprocessconsisting in fitting a piece of high tensile strength metal stock,capable of cold iowing, -upon said stranded wire structure and impactingsaid stock in such manner and to such an extent as to integrate thestock with the individual components of the stranded wire structuresubstantially throughout the region of attachment.

2. The process of securing an attachment to stranded Wire structurewhich consists in swedging a piece of metal stock surrounding thestranded wire structure by recurrent impacting forces applied thereto insuch manner and to such an extent as to impact the stock into theperipheral interstices of the stranded Wire structure and thus integratethe stock and stranded Wire structure with each other and Withoutrupturing or unduly heating or straining the individual Wires of thestranded Wire structure.

3. The process of securing an attachment to stranded Wire structure'which consists in fitting a surrounding ieee of metal stock thereto andswedging tiie same by recurrent impacting forces applied thereto untilthe stock flows longitudinally along the stranded Wire structure andfirmly grips and becomes embedded in the helical grooves of the strandedWire structure, thereby integrating the attachment and stranded Wirestructure as a unitary structure of uniform strength.

4. In the process of securing an attachment upon stranded Wirestructure, the steps which comprise surrounding the stranded Wi restructure With a metal sleeve having the property of flowing underperipheral pressure, and subjecting said sleeve to forces acting toimpact said sleeve upon said stranded Wire structure, said forces beingapplied by swedging said sleeve with a series of light high-velocityhammer blows or impacts distributed uniformly about each section of saidstranded Wire structure and acting to cause flow of the metal of saidsleeve while cold into the interstices of said stranded wire structure,thereby to integrate said sleeve with said stranded Wire structure andconstitute said attachment portion a part of substantially equal tensilestrength with the unsl-eeved portion of the stranded Wire structure.

5. The process of securing an attachment to stranded wire structurewhich consists in swedging a piece of metal stock to a desired shapeabout the stranded Wire structure, by recurrent impacting forces appliedthereto, the swedging being continued until thesurface of the stock incontact with the stranded Wire structure conforms to the surface of thelatter.

6. In the process of forming an attachment of desired shape upon astranded Wire structure, the steps which comprise swedging a piece ofmetal stock about the stranded Wire structure by recurrent impactingforces applied peripherally thereto in such a manner as to impact thestock into the peripheral recesses of said' stranded Wire structure andalso to swedge a thread upon the periphery of said stock. Y

7. In the process of securing an attachment upon stranded wirestructure, the step which comprises applying to said stranded Wirestructure a metal sleeve having seamless Walls of uniform thickness. at'any selected cross-section, then compressing said sleeve and strandedWire structure and impacting the material of the sleeve into theinterstices of the strand in a multiplicity of pressure operations byforces applied successively around said sleeve in numerous directionsrespectively normal to the periphery thereof, unt-il the material ofsaid sleeve is iiowed into said interstices completely and uniformlyaround the stranded Wire structure and the sleeve is thereby integratedwith the stranded Wire structure, constituting a part of equal tensilestrength therewith.

8. In the process of. securing an attachment upon a stranded Wirestructure, the steps which comprise surrounding the stranded Wirestructure with a sleeve of metal, and subjecting said sleeve to forcesacting peripherally thereupon to impact said sleeve upon said strandedWire structure in multiple pressure operations with a compressive stressvarying gradually from a maximum stress adapted to integrate said'sleeve With said stranded wire structure, to a minimum stress at theregion of exit of said stranded Wire structure from said sleeve, therebyto form an attachment which will develop the full strength of saidstranded Wire structure under tensile and bending stresses and whichisfree from any sharp localized constriction of the stranded Wirestructure.

9. In the process of securing an attachment upon stranded Wirestructure, the steps which comprise surrounding the stranded l'lSproperty of flowing under peripheral preswire structure with a sleeve ofmetal having the property of flowing under peripheral pressure, andsubjecting said sleeve to the action of tapered dies acting peripherallythereu on in multiple pressure operations to set said sleeve upon saidstranded wire structure with a compressive ually from tegrate saidsleeve with said stranded wire structure, to a minimum stress at theregion of exit of said stranded Wire structure from said sleeve, therebyto form an attachment which is free from any sharp localizedconstriction of the stranded wire structure.

10. In the process of securing an attachment upon strandedwirestructure, the steps which comprise surrounding a stranded steel Wirestructure with a steel sleeve having the stress varying gradsur'e, andsubjecting said sleeve to forces acting to compact said sleeveV andstranded steel wire, said forces being appliedin a series of deformino'operations distributed uniformly about ca h section of said strandedsteel wire and acting to cause flow of the steel of said sleeve whilecold into the interstices of saidstranded steel wire, thereby tointegrate said sleeve with said stranded steel wire and constitute saidattachment portion part of substantially equal ten- Sile strength withthe unsleeved portion of the stranded steel wire, said sleeve beingimpacted with a gradual reduction in the degree of compactness as theend of the sleeve at which the wire emerges is approached.

1l. An attachment formed upon stranded wire structure, said attachmentcomprising a piece of metal stock surrounding the stranded wirestructure .and integrated intimately therewith by the process ofapplying impacting forces to said stock.

l2. In an attachment for stranded' wire structure of the type adapted tosustain high tensile stresses, a body of metal surrounding and iowedinto the' peripheral recesses thereof, closely gripping the strandedWire structure, the surface of said body which is in contact with thestranded wire structure conforming integrally with the configurationiofthe entire exposed area of the latter, substantially ment, whereby saidattachment is fitted to develop substantially the entire strength of thestranded wire structure.

13. An article of manufacture comprising a standard wire structure ofthe type adapted to sustain high tensile stresses having an integralimpacted body of high tensile strength metal surrounding and closelygriping the stranded wire structure, the surface of the body which is incontact with the stranded wire structure conforming intimately with theconfiguration of the latter, substantially throughout their mutuallyexposed areas, whereby said attachment is ta maximum stress adapted toin throughout the region of attachted to develop substantially the..entire strength ofthe stranded wire structure.

14. The combination with a' stranded Wire structure, of an attachmentcomprising a piece of high tensile strength metal stock surrounding thestranded wire structure and filling the interstices of the individualcomponents thereofl so that the region of attachment between the stockand stranded Wire structure is free from voids throughout their mutuallyexposed areas.

15. In an attachment for stranded Wire structure of the type adapted tosustain high tensile stresses, a metal collar on and integrated withsaid stranded wire structure, the surface of the collar in contact withthe stranded wire structure conforming toI the configuration of thelatter, so that'the material of the collar is embedded in .and fillscompletely the exposed grooves of the stranded wire structure andclosely grips the entire exposed area of the latter, whereby saidattachment is fitted to develop substantially the entire strengthof thestranded Wire structure.

16. An article of manufacture comprising .a stranded wire structurehaving a metal sleeve impacted thereon by forces applied peripherally,said sleeve having a thread formed upon its periphery 'by said impactingforces. l

17. In an attachment for stranded Wire, an integral impacted body ofmetal Asurrounding and closely gripping said stranded Wire, the surfaceof the body which is in contact with the wire conforming to theconfiguration of the latter throughout their mutually 'exposed areas fora substantial portion of said region of contact and holding said portionunder compression diminishing gradually toward the region of exit ofsaid Wire from said body.

18. In an attachment for stranded steel wire, an integral impacted bodyof steel surrounding and closely gripping said stranded wire, thesurface of the body which is in contact with the wire conforming to theconfiguration of the latter throughout their mutually exposed areas foralsubstantial yportion of said region of contact.

19. As a new article of manufacture, a

-Wire strand formed of high-carbon stranded steel wire, land aseparately formed seamless sleeve of relatively 10W-carbon steelcoldiowed thereon and constituting an integral part thereof, said sleevehaving a cylindrical threaded periphery. i

20. The combination with a stranded wire structure comprising aplurality of wire strands, of a metal sleeve impacted thereon, saidstrandspbeing of circular form respectively where unconfined by thesleeve, and of non-circular section respectively where confined thereby,said non-circular sections merging gradually into said circular sectionswithin the region of said confinement.

2l. The combination with a stranded Wire article of the class described,of an attachment comprising a. sleeve having a cylindrical shankimpacted upon said stranded Wire, said shank having a non-cylindricalshaped operating portion.

22. The comblnation with a stranded Wire article of the class described,of an attachl0 ment comprising a sleeve having a polygonal head andhaving a shank impacted upon smd stranded wire, the Walls of said shankbeing enlarged in diameter gradually from the portion of said shankwhich is impacted upon said strand toward the region of union of saidshank and head, and said head surrounding Said strand loosely.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification.

EDWARD A. CONNER.

